Gryph... Buying a weapon...

[Razorflower]

Gryphon,

I've got 600 bucks to spend and I need a reliable handgun for personal/home defense. What would you recommend? I'm not interested in a revolver. I'd like a handgun, preferably w/ some stopping power, but I know I don't have much to spend, either.

Razorflower

 

[DarkBls]

Any gun have a great stoping power! It depends where you shoot

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[Zundfolge]

Not to speak for Gryphon (I too look forward to reading his opinion on this) but here's my .02

$600 opens the door up to a lot of real good guns. You're still a little short for the custom 1911 market, but there are many real good handguns in that price range.

I guess there are a few things you need to think about.

1. Will this be a carry weapon. If it will you may want to look at compacts. But if not, then a full frame handgun would be a good choice.

2. How big are your hands. One of the problems with compacts is that some people with large hands have problems with compacts. Comfort is the most important thing about a handgun.

3. Are you recoil sensative. Some people have a problem with recoil, if you fall into that category I'd stay away from .45acp.
If you've never fired a handgun, go to a local shooting range. They usualy have several models that you can rent and pump a few rounds though, and since many of them are also gun dealers, they may let you demo a gun or two (but you usualy have to demonstrate that you're real serious about purchasing for that).

As for brands, Glock, Sig, Kahr, and many other fine brands make good weapons in your price range. There are some advantages and disadvantages to each, but ultimatly you have to wrap your fingers around one (and preferably fire it) before you know if it's the right one for you. Again, comfort is what's important.

You may also look at a used handgun. There are real good deals to be found on used hardware that may not have had much use. Even without knowing a lot about guns, they are simple machines and most flaws are easily seen, even by the novice. However any reputible gun dealer should have no problem with you taking the gun to a gunsmith for inspection (this might have to be done douring a 10 day after purchase grace period or something like that).

For self defense I'd recommend one of the following calibers (generaly from least powerful to most).
9mm, .357sig, .40S&W, and .45acp (keep in mind that there is much disagreement in the gun community as to which of these is "best").

For myself I prefer .45acp (I kinda like recoil ) but have yet to fire a .357sig or a .40s&w so I can't comment on them, but I've read many good things about them (and may consider purchasing one of them instead of .45, but I wanna fire them first)

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[Razorflower]

Hands, large.. home defense only, not carry. And I've fired quite a few weapons, pistols, semi-autos, rifles... and never had a problem w/ recoil.

 

[Pretorious]

Go with...

The Colt .45. I have two (Combat Elite 1911 and 1991A1)
It is the perfect size caliber for a defensive weapon and if I remember correctly, the 1991A1 is 6 to 700 dollars.

"Follow the lead of nature, or the lead of God if you like your bible stories."
-Ernest Thesiger

Colt 1911 Enthusiast

 

[Meshuggah]

::Chants:: P10 P10 P10 P10

 

[Dogboy]

How many flames will I get for this one?

Beretta M-92. What can I say, I am loyal.

/me ducks.

Come on, God. Answer me. For years I'm asking you why: Why are the innocent dead and the guilty alive? Where is justice, where is punishment? Or have you already answered. Have you already said to the world, here is justice, here is punishment. Here...in me...

 

[[L]-Seretonin]

Dont flame me but..... defence from what??? Do you live in scary places where you expect some sort of home invasion??? I'm english so perhaps I dont understand the culture!

 

[phatcat]

umm.. for home?

FIRST, if you have any children look for a home safe gun

SECOND, you need to get training for handgun use BEFORE you buy ANY gun.

THREE, understand what your legal rights are as a weapon owner, and consiquences of using that weapon!!

that should come first before you figure out what you want

IMO a shot gun is good.

but my father has his old M1 form Korea that is the house's firearm. my dad's getting old, and I'm 19 now soon I'm gonna have to learn how to use it.

guns are not toys, bullets kill people

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[ThunderChunky]

Uh oh. This is about to get nasty.

Seretonin: Because United States citizens have the right to own firearms to defend themselves from ANYONE who may be encroaching on their rights, be that a burgaler, or the government.

Now people disagree with this, and the debate shall continue for a long time. Lets try to avoid it in this thread, shall we?

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[phatcat]

BTW, my thread is not to TROLL, I just think gun owners should think safty over killing power. if you job is to protect the home, do so by be'n a smart gun owner

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[HanD_of_DarKNesS]

Yeas, we'll definately stay away from the gun control issue, as it is now an officially banned topic (I read in the Forum rules by one of the INF team members).

I agree with Phatcat that safe gun ownership however, is smart gun ownership.

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[Zundfolge]

Gun control is a banned issue? I thought that was only on IRC? (I don't like the idea of banning topics in the Off Topic forum, especialy considering that the gun control issue has been handled very well by both sides in this forum)

Anyway I don't think anyone here thinks of me as being pro gun control in any way, but I'm an absolute stickler for gun safety. So I agree that you need a quickaccess locked storage (I recommend www.gunvault.com )

Mayhem, I'm with you on that P10, but he said he had large hands so I don't think he wants a compact (BTW have you seen Kimbers new Ultra-Ten II, it's a 10 round doublestacked .45 like the P10, sweet) also the P10 is outside his $600 price cap.

And Stormcaller, again, a Baretta 92f is over $600 (for me, I'd rather have the Baretta Cougar 8045F in .45acp ) Oh if you like the M9/ 92F you should check out the special edition one called "the Billennium" no more then 2000 will be made http://www.thebillennium.com/inglese/cartellastampa1.htm

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[Razorflower]

Banned topic. Well then I'll make this brief. I said "stopping power". If someone enters my home, endangers my children, my wife, or myself, I care little if "stopping power" stops their breathing.

 

[Razorflower]

Zundfolge,

Thanks for the helpful info bud!

Razorflower

 

[Zundfolge]

Amen brother Razerflower. Human beings understand reason, compassion, dignity. Predators understand strength.

I do think Darkness is wrong about gun control (or any topic) being banned from the forums.

Gun control is a forbidden subject on the IRC channel, but that's because they have had problems with petty flame wars that waste lots of bandwidth.

Honestly, I've seen some of the most civil yet hard fought debates on gun control in this forum. I've seen more flaming and petty bullshit surrounding gun control debates in gun forums then here. Since Gryphon is one of the moderators I doubt that gun control will be verboten.

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[phatcat]

Zundfolge, and Razorflower we need more of you guys

level headed, and mature!!

Gun safty first. Also one must be prepared to use there weapon. I, myself am not trained to use any firearms, so I'm at a big dissadvantate if there was a home invasion here.

I'll looking to get trained in the future.

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[Eliwar]

_-_

I'd seriously go for a Kahr K40. Damn good firearm. I gots p) a Sig 239 which is also good, but would rather have that Kahr.

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[Zundfolge]

I like the Kahr, but if I go with a .40S&W, I want to check out the Steyr S40 http://www.remtek.com/arms/steyr/msseries/s/index.htm

You know that Kahr just bought Auto-Ordnance (the "Tommy Gun" people) Auto-Ordnance also makes some nice 1911s.

Oh, and Phatcat, you've got a good attitude for someone who doesn't own a gun. Guns are not toys, and they are serious machines. Not to be taken lightly. It's too bad that there are gun owners out there with a less mature view of the gun then you have. Now get out to the range, get some classes under your belt and arm yourself

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[ShakKen]

Remember, any weapon you get is going to be worthless no matter how well customised, hand fitted, compensated, etc unless you take the time to LEARN the gun.

First thing you MUST do is get some proper training on how and when to use your weapon, and then practice your drawstroke and getting a sight picture. And then practice, practice, practice. When you're done, practice some more.

Even if your gun doesn't fit your hand, it recoils too heavy for you or is an ancient plain box stock pre-war P38, if you can LEARN the gun, you can master it.

I'm one of those weird people that believe you don't customise the grips to suit your hand, you learn the grip.

But like I said, the real thing that makes the differance is proper training. And lots of it no matter what the weapon. Another must is to ensure that you take the SELF-DEFENCE class and make sure you're properly briefed on the laws concerning using a firearm in self-defence.